Country Report Maldives April 2020

Outlook for 2020-21: Exchange rates

The rufiyaa is pegged to the US dollar. The midpoint of the exchange rate is Rf12.85:US$1, and the rate is permitted to fluctuate within a band of 20% either side of this level. In recent years, the currency has consistently tested the weak edge of the exchange-rate band. Gross international reserves, at US$741m at end-March, are relatively low compared with the monetary base (around Rf13.1bn, or US$852m, at end-March, based on MMA data). This renders the peg relatively vulnerable, particularly given the scale of the country's other external liabilities. There is a significant risk that the govern-ment could look to revise the peg later this year, with a view to weakening the currency, which would boost the attractiveness of the nation as a tourist destination. However, a substantial depreciation is not part of our core forecast.

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